5 mph speed limits in car parks in new test

At a meeting today with TC Manager we were discussing the driving forward into a bay, which will be conducted in a public car park. When entering the car park most have a 5 mph speed limit. The TCM stated this limit still applies and if the candidate drives at a speed greater than 5 mph this could be marked as a fault (she would not clarify if driver fault or major). Have you ever tried driving at 5 mph in a car park? Mayhem........

Re: 5 mph speed limits in car parks in new test

Will test centres that have their own car park use that for the forward park as they already do with the reverse park or will they be compelled to use public car parks. I am none to comfortable to have my car taken into public car parks having read this article https://www.chipsaway.co.uk/our-world/b … car-parks/Learner cars have been banned from the B&Q car park in Bishopbriggs by the landowners due to too many practicing parking. It will only be a matter of time before any car park used for the test is inundated with learner cars practicing there.The DVSA have opened a can of worms with this as public car parks are dangerous places to be even for the best of drivers.

Re: 5 mph speed limits in car parks in new test

Forward bay park WILL be done in a public car park. Reverse bay park will still be done at test centre if there is a car park. My local test centre manager will not tell us which public car parks will be used (we will soon find out) but did say car parks that have the number plate cameras as you enter will NOT be used as we would get a load of PCNs. If the car park has a one way system the DE will tell the candidate which way to reverse out to ensure they comply with one way system. Don't forget most public car parks have 5 mph speed limits and candidate MUST comply with this!!

Re: 5 mph speed limits in car parks in new test

Got a bit of an update from an examiner today. When using a public car park for the forward in and reverse out of a bay exercise, the candidate will be asked to drive into a bay of their choosing. Therefore if there are plenty available bays they need not choose one next to another car. If there are only bays with adjacent cars then they will have to pick one of those. Let's hope they stay away from car parks festooned with Xmas shoppers in December.

Re: 5 mph speed limits in car parks in new test

The difference between your jurisdiction (UK) and mine (NT) is interesting - on the NT's new test the bay park isn't mandatory and usually isn't done if the test doesn't start/end in a public carpark (council swimming pool carparks are the official starting points but test routes are loops and can be joined at any point, in which case the candidate drives past the nominated carpark without entering it).However he reverse parallel park behind another car (sometimes with an angry owner watching) IS mandatory, which doesn't make sense to me as NT drivers regularly bay park but avoid reverse parallel parking. Some of the most dangerous driving I've seen here is idiots speeding in carparks usually driving large SUVs or work utes (pickup trucks).

Some years ago when the bay park was mandatory I asked examiners to not select a park for the candidate because I always taught my learners to plan ahead before parking, and having a bay selected for them interfered with the planning process; they agreed. (It also tested their ability to select a legal park e.g. not a disabled park).

They didn't have to park next to or between other cars. and the smarter ones selected the easiest (safest) bays.

I've never had a candidate elect to reverse into a bay as NT drivers never cooperate with people trying to do this, and examiners were happy with this as reversing out is hazardous compared to reversing in.A headline photo once showed a fit man leaning through an open window to punch an elderly gentleman who was "taking too long to reverse into his park". The assailant was convicted and also fined for driving an unregistered car.

With Christmas fast approaching I only shop in the large complexes when the "local store" doesn't have the stuff I want - when I do, I park way back from the mall entrance to avoid car damage, and the walk is healthy.